Money blog + Charities | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/money/blog+society/charities
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2016Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:35:38 GMT2016-12-09T18:35:38Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2016The Guardianhttps://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttps://www.theguardian.com
Are overseas charity challenges just a jolly for all concerned?https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2016/apr/23/overseas-charity-challenges-jolly-how-much-money-good-causes
<p>A friend is heading to China to do a sponsored ride, but I’m unsure how much money actually goes to good causes</p><p><strong>Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper.</strong></p><p><strong>This week’s question: </strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2016/apr/23/overseas-charity-challenges-jolly-how-much-money-good-causes">Continue reading...</a>Charitable givingMoneyConsumer affairsCharitiesSocietySat, 23 Apr 2016 06:00:30 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2016/apr/23/overseas-charity-challenges-jolly-how-much-money-good-causesIllustration: BILL BROWN at Art DepartmentIllustration: BILL BROWN at Art DepartmentGuardian Staff2016-04-23T06:00:30ZAre gifts from charities the best use of your donations?https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2014/dec/18/gifts-charities-best-use-donations
The Salvation Army, Royal British Legion and Barnardo’s say money received justifies it – but many are annoyed by the tactic<p>In the runup to Christmas you may find charity gifts landing on your doormat, as good causes use gift tags, notepads, calendars and the like to try to raise cash. They can leave an uneasy feeling – are they a waste of supporters’ money or a savvy way to boost charity coffers?</p><p>My first two Christmas presents have both been from the British Red Cross. In November I received a pack of notelets along with a pen, and two days ago I got another gift, this time two coasters and a pen. Both came with a letter asking for financial support.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2014/dec/18/gifts-charities-best-use-donations">Continue reading...</a>Charitable givingConsumer affairsMoneyCharitiesVoluntary sectorSocietyThu, 18 Dec 2014 11:10:41 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2014/dec/18/gifts-charities-best-use-donationsPhotograph: James Drew TurnerThe contents of the lastest mailshot from the British Red Cross. Photograph: James Drew TurnerPhotograph: James Drew TurnerThe contents of the lastest mailshot from the British Red Cross. Photograph: James Drew TurnerSue Hayward2014-12-18T11:10:41ZI want my late mum's furniture to go to a good homehttps://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2013/jun/08/late-mums-furniture-good-home
I'm clearing out my mother's house and would like to give her belongings to someone who needs them. But where to begin?<p>Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it's up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday's paper.</p><p><strong>This week's question</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2013/jun/08/late-mums-furniture-good-home">Continue reading...</a>Consumer affairsCharitable givingMoneyDeath and dyingLife and styleCharitiesSocietyVoluntary sectorSat, 08 Jun 2013 06:01:39 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2013/jun/08/late-mums-furniture-good-homePhotograph: /AlamyMy mum has passed on and I'd like her belongings to go to someone who will appreciate them. Photograph: AlamyPhotograph: /AlamyMy mum has passed on and I'd like her belongings to go to someone who will appreciate them. Photograph: AlamyGuardian Staff2013-06-08T06:01:39ZYorkshire's hoard of mysterious silver and goldhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/nov/15/hepworth-wakefield-archaeology
Who buried the sovereigns and ducatoons in High Ackworth? And what is the story of the golden ring found with them, inscribed: <em>'When this you see, remember me'</em>?<p>There's a lot going off in Wakefield at the moment, in spite of hard times, with the Hepworth Wakefield doing consistently well, the <a href="http://www.trinitywalk.com/">Trinity Walk shopping centre</a> adding commercial life and now a <a href="http://www.wakefieldmuseums.org/">newly reorganised museum for the city.</a></p><p>This last, along with its sister centre at<a href="http://www.wakefieldmuseums.org/"> Pontefract</a>, is energising local young people – it's included in the <a href="http://wakefieldmuseumsandlibraries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/special-offer-for-young-archaeologists.html">Young Archaeologists' Club annual pass</a> and has just had its first school group in.</p><p>The earliest coin is a gold half sovereign of Edward VI minted in 1547-9, and the latest are Charles I silver coins minted in 1645-6. Most of the coins are English coins of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I. The Hoard also includes a few Scottish and Irish coins, and the ducatoons from the Spanish Netherlands. These are unusual and linked to the Royalist areas, such as Yorkshire, in the Civil War. They are especially associated with the Queen who raised funds on the Continent. She returned to Yorkshire in 1643 and is known to have visited Pontefract Castle then.</p><p>Hoards of coins from the Civil War are not unusual as these were turbulent times but the face value of these is very high and makes them one of the largest found in Yorkshire. </p><p>They really are an attractive assemblage, and the addition of the gold posy ring in the hoard makes it all the more interesting (without a maker's mark, these rings can be tricky to date, but its association with the coins means that we have a more reliable <em><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/terminus_post_quem">terminus post quem</a></em>).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/nov/15/hepworth-wakefield-archaeology">Continue reading...</a>Hepworth WakefieldArchaeologyForensic science and archaeologyMoneyHeritageHeritageMuseumsMuseumsYoung peopleChildrenCharitiesCharitable givingThu, 15 Nov 2012 06:26:43 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2012/nov/15/hepworth-wakefield-archaeologyPhotograph: North Wind Picture Archives / Al/AlamyWho doesn't like digging for treasure? Helping the Ackworth hoard appeal can be fun too. Photograph: North Wind Picture Archives / Al/AlamyPhotograph: North Wind Picture Archives / Al/AlamyWho doesn't like digging for treasure? Helping the Ackworth hoard appeal can be fun too. Photograph: North Wind Picture Archives / Al/AlamyMartin Wainwright2012-11-15T06:26:43ZJustGiving … it brings out the curmudgeonhttps://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2012/jun/15/justgiving
What to do about the constant, jaunty JustGiving emails? It's a modern minefield<p>It's the season when friends and colleagues dash off on "fun runs", don wetsuits to swim lakes, and jump on bikes for cross-country jaunts. And each one is accompanied by an email from JustGiving. Worse, by the time you open it somebody in the office has already pledged 50 quid, with a jazzy little message attached. Can you get away with just offering a tenner? Will you look like the office Scrooge? Pay nothing and mumble something about the fact that you are already committed to rather a lot through tax-efficient workplace giving?</p><p>One came in from a particularly wealthy acquaintance. Why couldn't she just donate a day of her lavish earnings rather than expect the rest of us to cough up for her (charity) cycle to Paris? … These things do seem to bring out the curmudgeon in you.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2012/jun/15/justgiving">Continue reading...</a>Charitable givingConsumer affairsMoneyCharitiesVoluntary sectorSocietyFri, 15 Jun 2012 21:58:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2012/jun/15/justgivingPhotograph: Anthony Devlin/PARunning marthons for charity is all the rage. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PAPhotograph: Anthony Devlin/PARunning marthons for charity is all the rage. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PAPatrick Collinson2012-06-15T21:58:01ZTK Maxx and Cancer Research team up for children's cancer researchhttps://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2012/mar/30/tkmaxx-cancer-research-donations
Celebrities back clothing retailer and charity's bid to raise cash for a good cause<p>Clothing retailer TK Maxx and <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" title="">Cancer Research UK</a> are urging people to <a href="http://www.tkmaxx.com/page/giveupclothes/give-up-clothes/page/giveupclothes" title="">"Give up Clothes for Good"</a> to raise millions of pounds to help the charity beat children's cancer.</p><p>Consumers are being urged to take part in the biggest ever UK clothing and homeware collection by bagging up clothes and shoes, books, DVDs and CDs and homeware – all in good condition – and taking them to their nearest branch of TK Maxx or Cancer Research UK. Donations will be accepted from Sunday for the month of April. Donation bags are available in all TK Maxx stores, although any bags are welcome.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2012/mar/30/tkmaxx-cancer-research-donations">Continue reading...</a>Charitable givingConsumer affairsMoneyUK newsCancerSocietyCharitiesFashionLife and styleVoluntary sectorFri, 30 Mar 2012 06:00:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2012/mar/30/tkmaxx-cancer-research-donationsPhotograph: Graham Turner/GuardianCancer Research project will help to fund work on children's cancer. Photograph: Graham Turner for the GuardianPhotograph: Graham Turner/GuardianCancer Research project will help to fund work on children's cancer. Photograph: Graham Turner for the GuardianRebecca Smithers2012-03-30T06:00:01ZWinter fuel alarm prompts Leeds 'die-in' outside Harvey Nickshttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2011/nov/23/winter-fuel-allowance-harvey-nichols-protest
Protest highlights serious concern - and helps prompt over-60s who don't need that £200 to give it to those who do<p>It's good news that <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/nov/10/wealthy-pensioners-winter-fuel-payments">efforts to divert the winter fuel allowance</a> voluntarily from the comfortably-off to those who actually need it are getting more organised.</p><p>I'm one – 61, healthy, well-paid and with absolutely no justification for taking £200 from fellow-taxpayers. So I haven't, which is one option. But using simple and efficient ways of passing the dosh on are another alternative, provided you remember actually to do it.</p><p>We are outside Harvey Nichols today to highlight the horrific effect of inequality in the UK: while some live in opulence others die because they cannot heat their homes. We need a fairer energy economy based upon the provision of needs rather than the ability to pay.</p><p>It is appalling that vulnerable people are dying in poorly insulated homes that are increasingly expensive to heat. The Big Six energy companies have a moral duty to invest in sustainable and affordable energy supply rather than pushing up bills through increasingly costly fossil fuels.</p><p>At the same time, the Government needs to rethink its proposals to reduce the feed-in tariff, cuts which have already led to 5000 households in Leeds being prevented from receiving free renewable electricity.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2011/nov/23/winter-fuel-allowance-harvey-nichols-protest">Continue reading...</a>WinterHealthHealth & wellbeingCharitable givingCharitiesLeedsLondonProtestSocietyGasPoliticsRetail industryMoneyEnergy billsVoluntary sectorNorth of EnglandWed, 23 Nov 2011 10:13:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2011/nov/23/winter-fuel-allowance-harvey-nichols-protestPhotograph: Leeds TidalMaking the point: Leeds Fuel poverty activists in Briggate. Photograph: Leeds TidalPhotograph: Leeds TidalMaking the point: Leeds Fuel poverty activists in Briggate. Photograph: Leeds TidalMartin Wainwright2011-11-23T10:13:44ZMarks and Spencer wardrobe clearout: a help for hoarders to declutter?https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2010/sep/08/marks-and-spencer-wardrobe-clearout
For every new item, get rid of an old one. Marks and Spencer's £5 sweetener can allow fashion followers to do just that<p>With <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/03/high-street-fashion-week" title="">London Fashion Week</a> looming and the summer on its way out, our thoughts may be turning to the temptations of the spanking new autumn fashions being paraded on the catwalk and, of course, the need for a jolly good wardrobe clearout.</p><p>Everyone's at it, apparently. We were told this week that even <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/06/prince-charles-green-train-campaign" title="">Prince Charles</a> got a minion to declutter one's cupboards at Highgrove and decided it was history for his favourite corduroy gardening trousers. And the famous model and "face of M&amp;S", Twiggy, is giving away a winter cape she hasn't worn since the '60s.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2010/sep/08/marks-and-spencer-wardrobe-clearout">Continue reading...</a>Consumer affairsMoneyFashionMarks & SpencerLife and styleCharitiesFamily financesBusinessSocietyCharitable givingWed, 08 Sep 2010 10:14:17 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2010/sep/08/marks-and-spencer-wardrobe-clearoutPhotograph: Public DomainEven Twiggy, centre, the 'face of M&S' is cleaning out her wardrobe.Photograph: Public DomainEven Twiggy, centre, the 'face of M&S' is cleaning out her wardrobe.Rebecca Smithers2010-09-08T10:14:17ZIs it OK to take things from outside a charity shop?https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/may/26/charity-shop-donations
A reader ponders the ethics of taking charity donations that have been left outside<p>Every week a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/money" title="Guardian Money supplement">Guardian Money</a> reader submits a question, and it's up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in Saturday's paper.</p><p><strong>This week's question</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/may/26/charity-shop-donations">Continue reading...</a>Charitable givingConsumer affairsMoneySocietyVoluntary sectorCharitiesTue, 26 May 2009 13:12:53 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2009/may/26/charity-shop-donationsPhotograph: Graham Turner/GuardianIs it wrong to take something that has been left outside a charity shop? Photograph: Graham Turner/GuardianPhotograph: Graham Turner/GuardianIs it wrong to take something that has been left outside a charity shop? Photograph: Graham Turner/GuardianHilary Osborne2009-05-26T13:12:53ZShould private schools be charities?https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2007/nov/09/privateschools
Private schools may be forced to give more assistance to students from low-income families - with wealthier parents paying the price<p><br>Should schools like Eton keep their charitable status? Photograph: John Stillwell/PA<br> </p><p>According to the latest polls, the public have contradictory feelings about private schools. Separate surveys suggest more than 70% of parents are opposed to them on principle, but that almost 60% would consider enrolling their children in one if they could afford to.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2007/nov/09/privateschools">Continue reading...</a>Consumer affairsMoneyCharitiesFri, 09 Nov 2007 11:30:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2007/nov/09/privateschoolsJill Insley2007-11-09T11:30:00Z